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No Pepper · 05-02-2008, 03:13 PM

The October Campaign and the Race for the Pennant

In the best finish in more than a decade, the National League was triumphed by the late-surging heroics of the Cardinals of St. Louis. On October 5th, St. Louis and Cincinnati sat atop the standings tied with two games to go. Fate would have it that these two teams would face each other in the season’s final series. St. Louis enjoyed a hot September as top performer Bob Wicker went the final month with 6 victories to no defeats, sporting a 0.83 earned runs average. Jesse Burkett ended a cold August by hitting .366 and scoring 26 runs in his best offensive month of the season.

Southerner Ed Murphy (24-10, St. Louis slated three such pitchers) dominated Cincinnati allowing 5 scattered hits among the Reds trio of Crawford, Beckley, and Steinfeldt and silenced the rest including the 14,000 at League Park. Two costly errors in the 5th inning by Cincinnati battery mates was all that St. Louis needed take the lead for good.

On the final day of the season, the crowd at League Park erupted in boos when it was learned that recent callup Archie Stimmel would be starting in place of the scheduled Crese Heismann, who apparently was suffering low back pain* during his warm-up tosses. Although Stimmel excelled at Indianapolis, going 20-8 with 209 strikeouts, St. Louis torched the rookie for 5 runs in the first and would leave the game 8-3, which was the final tally. Noodles Hahn, star pitcher, also did not make an appearance, though he seemed well rested. Manager Bid McPhee may bid farewell to the captain’s helm after mishandling such a crucial game, handing the St. Louis team the championship. The exciting finish was contrasted by the uneven play of the rest of the league, where three teams had winning percentages under .400

Complete Standings of National Championship Season 1901

Code:

  Club.	     Won. Lost. P.C.       Club.	Won. Lost. P.C.     
St. Louis    90    50  .643    | New York       71   69   .507
Cincinnati   88    52  .629    | Chicago        55   85   .393
Pittsburgh   86    54  .614    | Boston         51   89   .364
Philadelphia 73    67  .521    | Brooklyn       46   94   .329

* - Author's Note : Interesting that Archie Stimmel's nickname in real life was "Lumbago" or "low back pain." In the sim he was the spot starter who slated to start over the better Heismann (whose injury I aptly faked) and well-rested ace Hahn. Apparently OOTP didn't know the significance of this final game to start the team's best pitchers.

Detroit limped in as the American League’s first champion after fending off the hot Bostons who were winners of their last 4 to tie a sagging Chicago team some thought would win the remainder of the season. Detroit fielded a weak hitting team with Doc Casey setting the table and Ducky Holmes clearing the bases. The Tigers took a cue from the National League and staffed a line of hurlers equal to the Senior Circuit. While no one stood out as exceptional, Roscoe Miller (20-16) lead a squad of solid performers that kept opposing teams off balance. Buck Freeman found his power stroke and led the charge for Boston, hitting .355 and lead the league in slugging prowess. Pitching was led by surprise prospect Frank Morrissey (24-11) who must have taken the magic of Cy Young, who slipped to a disappointing 16-19. Chicago prompted traded pitcher-manager Clark Griffith to Milwaukee after a disappointing 12-14 September record to fall off the pace. He finished the season with 3 straight losses on the mound and to add injury to insult, hurt his knee in his last start, not lasting one complete inning. Overall, the league was very competitive, placing great emphasis on each game down the stretch, pushing the leaders to play their best. The quality of play should worry the Nationals and they should expect more players to jump at the chance of a competitive team, not that we here at The Sporting News condone such actions.

Complete Standings of American Championship Season 1901

Code:

  Club.	     Won. Lost. P.C.       Club.	Won. Lost. P.C.     
Detroit      76    64  .543    | Philadelphia    68   72   .486
Boston       74    66  .529    | Milwaukee       67   73   .479
Chicago      74    66  .529    | Washington      67   73   .479
Baltimore    73    67  .521    | Cleveland       61   79   .436

05-02-2008, 03:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
No Pepper All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 912 Thanked 7x in 5 posts	The October Campaign and the Race for the Pennant In the best finish in more than a decade, the National League was triumphed by the late-surging heroics of the Cardinals of St. Louis. On October 5th, St. Louis and Cincinnati sat atop the standings tied with two games to go. Fate would have it that these two teams would face each other in the season’s final series. St. Louis enjoyed a hot September as top performer Bob Wicker went the final month with 6 victories to no defeats, sporting a 0.83 earned runs average. Jesse Burkett ended a cold August by hitting .366 and scoring 26 runs in his best offensive month of the season. Southerner Ed Murphy (24-10, St. Louis slated three such pitchers) dominated Cincinnati allowing 5 scattered hits among the Reds trio of Crawford, Beckley, and Steinfeldt and silenced the rest including the 14,000 at League Park. Two costly errors in the 5th inning by Cincinnati battery mates was all that St. Louis needed take the lead for good. On the final day of the season, the crowd at League Park erupted in boos when it was learned that recent callup Archie Stimmel would be starting in place of the scheduled Crese Heismann, who apparently was suffering low back pain* during his warm-up tosses. Although Stimmel excelled at Indianapolis, going 20-8 with 209 strikeouts, St. Louis torched the rookie for 5 runs in the first and would leave the game 8-3, which was the final tally. Noodles Hahn, star pitcher, also did not make an appearance, though he seemed well rested. Manager Bid McPhee may bid farewell to the captain’s helm after mishandling such a crucial game, handing the St. Louis team the championship. The exciting finish was contrasted by the uneven play of the rest of the league, where three teams had winning percentages under .400 Complete Standings of National Championship Season 1901 Code: Club. Won. Lost. P.C. Club. Won. Lost. P.C. St. Louis 90 50 .643 \| New York 71 69 .507 Cincinnati 88 52 .629 \| Chicago 55 85 .393 Pittsburgh 86 54 .614 \| Boston 51 89 .364 Philadelphia 73 67 .521 \| Brooklyn 46 94 .329 * - Author's Note : Interesting that Archie Stimmel's nickname in real life was "Lumbago" or "low back pain." In the sim he was the spot starter who slated to start over the better Heismann (whose injury I aptly faked) and well-rested ace Hahn. Apparently OOTP didn't know the significance of this final game to start the team's best pitchers. Detroit limped in as the American League’s first champion after fending off the hot Bostons who were winners of their last 4 to tie a sagging Chicago team some thought would win the remainder of the season. Detroit fielded a weak hitting team with Doc Casey setting the table and Ducky Holmes clearing the bases. The Tigers took a cue from the National League and staffed a line of hurlers equal to the Senior Circuit. While no one stood out as exceptional, Roscoe Miller (20-16) lead a squad of solid performers that kept opposing teams off balance. Buck Freeman found his power stroke and led the charge for Boston, hitting .355 and lead the league in slugging prowess. Pitching was led by surprise prospect Frank Morrissey (24-11) who must have taken the magic of Cy Young, who slipped to a disappointing 16-19. Chicago prompted traded pitcher-manager Clark Griffith to Milwaukee after a disappointing 12-14 September record to fall off the pace. He finished the season with 3 straight losses on the mound and to add injury to insult, hurt his knee in his last start, not lasting one complete inning. Overall, the league was very competitive, placing great emphasis on each game down the stretch, pushing the leaders to play their best. The quality of play should worry the Nationals and they should expect more players to jump at the chance of a competitive team, not that we here at The Sporting News condone such actions. Complete Standings of American Championship Season 1901 Code: Club. Won. Lost. P.C. Club. Won. Lost. P.C. Detroit 76 64 .543 \| Philadelphia 68 72 .486 Boston 74 66 .529 \| Milwaukee 67 73 .479 Chicago 74 66 .529 \| Washington 67 73 .479 Baltimore 73 67 .521 \| Cleveland 61 79 .436 __________________ Current Dynasty: The Slippery Elm Boys Historical Uniforms: Major, Minor, Latin and Negro Leagues 19th century uniforms and templates. Logo Collection Last edited by No Pepper; 05-17-2008 at 01:17 AM.